Robert Bosch has set up a new business unit to commercialise quantum sensors.
With a view to sharing in the strong growth expected for this market, an in-house startup will pool the results of research so far and translate them into products.
The CEO of the newly established startup is Dr Katrin Kobe. A physics PhD, she brings to Bosch more than 25 years of management experience with a variety of technology companies. ‘Bosch is seizing the opportunity to make headway with this promising new field in an agile startup environment,’ said Kobe.
The company has already been conducting research in the field of quantum technology for seven years and is now planning to develop the market for quantum sensor products.
There are 15 people working at the new startup. The team, which is set to grow to more than 20 in the coming months, is looking to attract engineers and business developers in particular.
The new business unit will be located on the premises of its subsidiary in Ludwigsburg. Organisationally, the startup will be assigned to the Bosch Automotive Electronics division, based in Reutlingen.
Semiconductor investment
In an additional move to combat the ongoing global chip shortage, Bosch plans to further extend its wafer fab in Reutlingen.
More than a quarter of a billion euros is to be invested in creating new production space and the necessary clean-room facilities between now and 2025. This will give Bosch the firepower to meet the continuously growing demand for chips used in mobility and IoT applications.
Plans for the additional 3,600 square meters of clean-room space. Picture: Bosch
Dr Stefan Hartung, chairman of the board of management of Robert Bosch, commented: ‘This new investment will not only strengthen our competitive position, but will also benefit our customers and help combat the crisis in the semiconductor supply chain.’
The construction of a new extension in Reutlingen will create an additional 3,600 square metres of ultramodern clean-room space. As of 2025, this additional capacity will produce semiconductors based on technology already in place at the Reutlingen plant.
Bosch is also extending an existing power supply facility and will construct an additional building for media supply systems serving both the new and existing production areas. The new production area is scheduled to go into operation in 2025.
